Dr. Brian Steinke's medical specialty is spine surgery and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. He studied medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. Dr. Steinke trained at a hospital affiliated with Loyola University for residency. His areas of expertise include the following: kyphoplasty (vertebral augmentation), spinal fusion, and spine problems. Dr. Steinke's average patient rating is 5.0 stars out of 5. He honors several insurance carriers, including Aetna EPO, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group, and Delnor Hospital. His practice is open to new patients.

Dr. Stephen Heim is a spine surgeon and orthopedist in Warrenville, IL and Bartlett, IL. Dr. Heim's areas of expertise include sciatica, microsurgery, and spinal fusion. Aetna EPO, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Heim takes. He attended Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine and subsequently trained at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for residency. He has received professional recognition including the following: Chicago Super Doctors. Dr. Heim speaks Spanish. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group. New patients are welcome to contact Dr. Heim's office for an appointment.

Dr. Anubhav Jagadish works as a spine surgeon and orthopedist in Schaumburg, IL, Elk Grove Village, IL, and Bartlett, IL. Aetna EPO, Anthem, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Jagadish accepts. He attended medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Jagadish trained at Henry Ford Hospital for residency. He is professionally affiliated with Alexian Brothers Medical Center and St. Alexius Medical Center.

Dr. Carl Graf sees patients in Schaumburg, IL and Crystal Lake, IL. His medical specialties are spine surgery and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. Dr. Graf is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine. For his professional training, Dr. Graf completed a residency program at a hospital affiliated with the University of Illinois at Chicago. His areas of expertise include cervical (neck) spine problems, kyphoplasty (vertebral augmentation), and degenerative disc disease. Patients rated Dr. Graf highly, giving him an average of 4.5 stars out of 5. He takes Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and HFN, in addition to other insurance carriers. In addition to English, he speaks Spanish. Dr. Graf's hospital/clinic affiliations include Alexian Brothers Medical Center, St. Alexius Medical Center, and Centegra Health System.

Dr. Thomas McNally is a spine surgery and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery specialist in Bartlett, IL, Elgin, IL, and Elk Grove Village, IL. His areas of expertise include the following: scoliosis, anterior cervical discectomy, and lumbar laminectomy. Dr. McNally's professional affiliations include Alexian Brothers Medical Center and St. Alexius Medical Center. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, HealthSmart, and Viant are among the insurance carriers that Dr. McNally accepts. He attended the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine and subsequently trained at the University of Chicago Medical Center for residency.

Dr. Gregory Drake is a physician who specializes in spine surgery and adult orthopedic reconstructive surgery. Dr. Drake's areas of clinical interest consist of shoulder surgery and spine surgery procedures. Patients rated him highly, giving him an average of 4.0 stars out of 5. He takes Aetna EPO, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry, in addition to other insurance carriers. He is a graduate of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCUMB), College of Osteopathic Medicine and a graduate of Botsford Hospital's residency program. He is affiliated with Alexian Brothers Medical Center and St. Alexius Medical Center.

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What is Spine Surgery?

Spinal surgery is the subspecialty that uses surgery to restore the normal function of the spine when things go wrong due to trauma, disease, or other disorders. There are many ways that the spine can begin to hurt or lose the ability to move properly, and surgery is not always necessary. However, when surgery is needed, there’s no one more qualified for the job than a spine surgeon.

Spinal surgery can be considered a subspecialty of either orthopedics or neurosurgery. That means that a spine surgeon may take either path to this specific career, training first as either an orthopedist or a neurosurgeon. Orthopedics deals mainly with the structural issues of the back and spine: the bones, muscles, and joints. Neurosurgery deals mainly with issues of the brain, nerves, and spinal cord. So when choosing a spine surgeon, it is sometimes possible that your surgeon’s background will have a bearing on your particular diagnosis. However, in most cases, it doesn’t matter. Either an orthopedist-spine surgeon or a neurosurgeon-spine surgeon can handle the majority of spine surgeries. What is more important is that some spine surgeons specialize in specific areas of the spine, such as lumbar surgery or cervical surgery. In that case, it is important to connect with a surgeon who is experienced with your particular need.

Some of the surgeries performed on the spine include:

Correction of spinal deformities, such as scoliosis

Spinal fusion

Minimally invasive spine surgery, including decompression surgeries such as discectomy and laminectomy

The spine is a very complicated piece of your body’s machinery, and a very necessary part of your movement and function. It holds you up and allows you to move. Having a working spine is important, and having a skilled surgeon when you need spinal surgery is critical.